De Vaux
Encyclopedia
The De Vaux was an automobile produced by the De Vaux Motors Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan
and Oakland, California
(USA).
Heavily based on the 1930 Durant (automobile)
, the vehicle was produced for the 1931 model year only. Bodies for the cars were built by Hayes Body of Grand Rapids who had leased a plant aside their own to De Vaux for initial manufacture. So, bodies were delivered to De Vaux by using a bridge between the plants. Later, De Vaux also were built in a former Durant plant in Oakland, California
.
The cars were powered by a six cylinder engine that was developed by Col. Elbert J. Hall, partner in the De Vaux venture and co-founder of the Hall-Scott Motor Company, who had begun building racing cars in 1908. He also developed engines for tractors and buses and participated essentially in the Liberty airplane engine
project.
The De Vaux was offered in one model only, the 6/75. It rode on an 113 in. (2870 mm) wheelbase. The Hall-Scott built L-head
six cylinder engine developed 70 or 80 HP (depending on source). Bodies were essentially from the defunct Durant car but the De Vaux got a clever facelift in the front by Hayes designer, famed Alexis de Sakhnoffsky
. That prompted De Vaux to brag about a "de Sakhnoffsky styled" body in its ads. Offered were a Coupe and a Sedan in Standard trim ($595 each) and the same in Custom trim for $795. Sometimes, a phaeton for $545 is mentioned but this possibly war just planned and did not reach production. De Vaux ads do not refer to it.
Production of the De Vaux began in April 1931 and the company was unable to meet the market demands. De Vaux produced 4,808 vehicles (maybe including production until January, 1932) before being taken over by Continental Motors Corporation who renamed it the Continental-De Vaux Company
. Their cars were
called Continental De Vaux (sometimes vice-verso, too). There were few changes, most notable (but not surprisingly) a replacement of the Hall-Scott engine by a 84 HP Continental 32-A six cylinder L-head engine. Only 1,358 of these cars were built.
Then, Continental gave it a last try by renaming the company again, to Continental Automobile Company
in November, 1932. It built three line of cars, the four cylinder Beacon on a shorter chassis and the 6 cylinder Ace and Flyer that still were based on the De Vaux. For 1934, only the Beacon remained. After producing approximately 4,200 vehicles during the 1933 and 1934 model years, Continental gave up. Remaining assets were repurchased by Norman De Vaux who hoped to restart production. But his plans never materialized and he sold his California
plant to General Motors in 1936.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
and Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
(USA).
Heavily based on the 1930 Durant (automobile)
Durant (automobile)
The Durant was a make of automobile assembled by Durant Motors Corporation of New York City, New York from 1921 to 1926 and again from 1928 to 1932. Durant Motors was founded by William "Billy" Durant after he was terminated as the head of General Motors...
, the vehicle was produced for the 1931 model year only. Bodies for the cars were built by Hayes Body of Grand Rapids who had leased a plant aside their own to De Vaux for initial manufacture. So, bodies were delivered to De Vaux by using a bridge between the plants. Later, De Vaux also were built in a former Durant plant in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
The cars were powered by a six cylinder engine that was developed by Col. Elbert J. Hall, partner in the De Vaux venture and co-founder of the Hall-Scott Motor Company, who had begun building racing cars in 1908. He also developed engines for tractors and buses and participated essentially in the Liberty airplane engine
Lincoln Liberty engine
Henry Leland's Lincoln Motor Company was formed with the sole purpose of building the Liberty engine.As the United States entered World War I, the Cadillac division of General Motors was asked to produce the new Liberty aircraft engine, but William C. Durant was a pacifist who did not want General...
project.
The De Vaux was offered in one model only, the 6/75. It rode on an 113 in. (2870 mm) wheelbase. The Hall-Scott built L-head
Flathead engine
A flathead engine is an internal combustion engine with valves placed in the engine block beside the piston, instead of in the cylinder head, as in an overhead valve engine...
six cylinder engine developed 70 or 80 HP (depending on source). Bodies were essentially from the defunct Durant car but the De Vaux got a clever facelift in the front by Hayes designer, famed Alexis de Sakhnoffsky
Alexis de Sakhnoffsky
Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky was a Russian-American industrial designer, known principally for his Streamline-style automotive designs. Born in Moscow in 1901, Sakhnoffsky emigrated to Switzerland in 1919 and by the 1920s had become a well-known designer of European sports cars...
. That prompted De Vaux to brag about a "de Sakhnoffsky styled" body in its ads. Offered were a Coupe and a Sedan in Standard trim ($595 each) and the same in Custom trim for $795. Sometimes, a phaeton for $545 is mentioned but this possibly war just planned and did not reach production. De Vaux ads do not refer to it.
Production of the De Vaux began in April 1931 and the company was unable to meet the market demands. De Vaux produced 4,808 vehicles (maybe including production until January, 1932) before being taken over by Continental Motors Corporation who renamed it the Continental-De Vaux Company
De Vaux Continental
The Continental De Vaux was an automobile produced by the Continental-De Vaux Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan from February, 1932 until November, 1932....
. Their cars were
called Continental De Vaux (sometimes vice-verso, too). There were few changes, most notable (but not surprisingly) a replacement of the Hall-Scott engine by a 84 HP Continental 32-A six cylinder L-head engine. Only 1,358 of these cars were built.
Then, Continental gave it a last try by renaming the company again, to Continental Automobile Company
Continental Motors Company
Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in...
in November, 1932. It built three line of cars, the four cylinder Beacon on a shorter chassis and the 6 cylinder Ace and Flyer that still were based on the De Vaux. For 1934, only the Beacon remained. After producing approximately 4,200 vehicles during the 1933 and 1934 model years, Continental gave up. Remaining assets were repurchased by Norman De Vaux who hoped to restart production. But his plans never materialized and he sold his California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
plant to General Motors in 1936.